Terminal Ballistics

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the penetration and "stopping power" of a bullet can be measured using the kinetic energy and Taylor Index equations. The paper reveals that wound ballistics is concerned with the motions and interactions of the projectile with tissue. The author believes that, through understanding of the physics behind bullet impacts and penetration, the criminologist more fully understands how different types of projectiles react when striking flesh or other resistant mediums and can lead to better a understanding of the whys and hows of a crime. Formulas included.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Physics behind the Bullet
Wound Ballistics
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"To get the bullet in a vital area you need penetration. As a rule of thumb, velocity times sectional density is equal to relative bullet penetration. This is valid for bullets of similar composition. In good hunting bullets, expansion is consistently in the neighborhood of double the diameter and we assume the bullet will retain its weight. If the bullet goes to pieces, losing weight and consequently its sectional density, you might as well forget about it. The heavier bullet has a higher sectional density and will maintain the higher sectional density when it has expanded to double its diameter. In addition, the heavier bullets tend to have lower velocity. At lower velocity the resistance and consequently crushing force on the bullet nose, is lower, so expansion is delayed. This is why heavy bullets have delayed expansion, and do not show the same tendency to blow up on the surface as light bullets even though they have identical impact energy. It is how a given bullet interacts with tissue that determines its lethality."

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